Jury Rejects Ex-football Coach's Complaint

PLAINVILLE — A former Plainville High School football coach recently was rebuffed in his federal court complaint that his civil rights had been violated when he was fired two years ago.

A jury in Bridgeport decided against Robin Anderson's complaint earlier this month. His Hartford attorney said Monday that his client has yet to decide if he will appeal.

``We're going to be meeting with him and disussing his options,'' said Peter Goselin, Anderson's attorney. ``There are some issues that came up in the course of the case that are potential issues for an appeal. I think we presented a great deal of compelling evidence that demonstrated the lack of credibility by school officials.''

Anderson could not be reached for comment Monday.

The former assistant varsity football coach was fired after complaining to police that a senior had punched him in the face and yelled racial slurs at him after a game in 1995. The student was arrested and convicted of third-degree assault. But shortly after that, Anderson was fired.

He then filed his federal court case.

Anderson complained that the firing was in retaliation for his reporting the attack to police. School officials denied the accusation, saying they fired Anderson because of his differences in coaching philosophy with the head coach at the time.

In March, Anderson, a special education teacher at Buckeley High School in Hartford, reported a separate incident to police involving his son, R.J. Anderson, then a senior and star quarterback on the Plainville High School football team.

Robin Anderson said his son was assaulted by Greg Ziogas, the athletic director at the time. But both school officials and police said Anderson's complaint could not be substantiated.